Saturday Update

Apparently the one brief stint that I slept this morning was when the neonatologist decided to do rounds. I was disappointed not to get the opportunity to ask what he or she thought about Ryan's episode of bradycardia. So, we still don't know for sure if this will impact his discharge date. Thankfully Ryan's oxygen saturation level and respiration rate have been stable at room air for many hours now, so he is doing well when it comes to his respiratory issues. In order to be able to be discharged, we need to get nursing established and Ryan needs to gain some weight. His weight dropped 13 ozs after birth before he could receive oral feedings, jumped back to 6lbs 8oz (while he was still receiving IV fluids), and since the IV fluids were discontinued has dropped to 6lbs 7oz and then 6lbs 5oz. His weight increased tonight, but only by 5 grams which is a really miniscule change. This is discouraging because, not only am I trying to nurse him at the beginning of each feeding, he is also receiving supplemental expressed breastmilk through his nasal-gastric tube at every feeding (between 1 and 1 1/2 ounces). Several nurses have said that oftentimes preemie babies (and those with respiratory issues) have difficulties nursing at first, but then a "light comes on" and the babies suddenly grasp the concept. Please pray that the light comes on for Ryan very soon as we are very anxious to take him home (obviously!) One of the nurses had us bring our carseat into the room today because Ryan will have to pass a carseat test in order to be discharged (1 hour sitting upright in his carseat keeping his oxygen and respiration rate stats up). We were disappointed though when we were told that the test wouldn't occur yet because it still may be awhile before he is approved to go home. In other "news", since Ryan no longer needed the bed warmer and other medical accessories in the isolette, he was "upgraded" to a basinette today.

Dan and I have been missing Ethan so much. Until this week I had only been away from him overnight for one night in his entire 2 1/2 year life. Thankfully mom and dad live just about a 40-minute drive away. They have done a wonderful job taking care of him, and he has had a lot of fun with them this week. I'm sure that he doesn't quite grasp everything that is going on, but he knows that mommy and daddy are at the hospital, and my dad showed him digital pics of Ryan on their TV. Dad took Ethan to a train show today at a local civic center where there were all sorts of train layouts and collectibles. Dad said that Ethan absolutely loved it. We have missed him terribly, but it makes us feel better knowing that Ethan has been enjoying this time with his grandparents and uncle Mike.